I have spent many years figuring out what to do in my life, and once I got into college, I decided to become a mechanical engineer. I have always been fascinated in areas involving science and technology, so naturally, I followed into engineering. But, I discovered that engineering covers many areas of science and so offered me many possibilities in fields of chemistry, biology, robotics, and much more. In my path to become an engineer, I took part in many interesting projects that challenged me intellectually and let me explore new ideas.

Throughout college, I gained much experience and even collaborated with other engineers. I spent plenty of time on lab work and experiments, and for major projects, I have worked in teams to construct drones and human-powered vehicles, which we would enter into engineering competitions. I believe one of my biggest accomplishments came during my final semester of college when my university collaborated with the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a program to allow students to work at the shipyard for a semester-long course. I was fortunate enough to be chosen as one of the eight students from the entire mechanical engineering school to enroll in the program. I studied under professionals and got to experience real field work. In the end, I was able to produce an official engineering design sketch that would be used to help their ships. My experience in college offered me many opportunities to sharpen my engineering skills, which prepared me for my graduate program.

Currently, I am enrolled in my graduate program and have been working and researching under the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute. For my research, I am looking to improve the production and properties of biochar, utilizing a cleaner production method through a closed system. Biochar has many potential benefits to society and the environment. Biochar is a charcoal substance made from burnt organic material. It possesses strong adsorption abilities that can help to remove harmful wastes and non-biodegradable contaminants from resources, such as soil and water. These characteristics make biochar a greener alternative for most charcoal products and may provide a potential way to improve the quality of fuel, feedstock, pharmaceuticals, and much more. I have been performing several tests in the past year and expanded my knowledge on bioengineering. So far, my research has yielded very interesting results that I hope may lead to a significant discovery that benefits the world by improving the health and well-being of people and the environment.

In my endeavors to succeed in my career, I have gained much experience in my field. Through my work, I have broadened my skills and learned the many areas that engineering can affect. Engineers can improve technology, build structures, and create richer and healthier resources. I can accomplish many things through the work that I conduct. As I continue my work in my graduate program, I hope to seek support in my path to earning my master’s degree to open even more opportunities to me when I finally go out into the world.